In reference to documentaries which aired on Television and the internet in 2024; documentary makers are bringing forth the subjects of living with a terminal illness, dying, death and body disposition here in Australia and overseas.


Myself and other End of Life Doulas want to help instigate the shift for Aussies to have a more open-minded approach to these subjects. Having life and death conversations sooner rather than later, being aware of what is available in their local community and also far and wide, helps people and their families on the journey of living while preparing for dying and death, after a limited life diagnosis.

For example:

Preparing for death, well, getting your affairs in order, such as, having in place an Enduring Power of Attorney, a Will, an Advanced Health Directive and or a Statement of Choices. All these come under the Advanced Care Planning Umbrella.

Some people may want to plan Living Wakes, long overdue holidays at home and abroad, reconnect with old friends and estranged loved ones, tick off items on their bucket list that they never got to previously do, or have put off.

Some may want to declutter material possessions while they are still living and distribute same to loved ones, friends, charities etc.

People need to prepare for and organise medical, general health, family, social and spiritual care, whether it be at home, in a hospice, hospital, aged care or a home away from home.

Some Food for thought: Spending time with loved ones before death expresses love. Spending lots of money, after death, to farewell someone precious, having not spent quality time with them during their life, does not necessarily express love.

Planning for dying and after death is important; making the transition for the dying more peaceful, as they feel that their wishes are fulfilled, any unfinished business may be somewhat alleviated and so, relieving some stress on those left behind.

There are many, eco-friendly, space saving and unique ways to rest loved ones in the way of their choosing. Weird wonderful ways worldwide for body disposal according to one’s budget.
Preparing one and laying one to rest while honouring them can vary due to diverse cultural rituals and customs.
 
References from Michael Hebb’s book ‘Let’s Talk about Death over Dinner’ (2018) and from “The Last Goodbye’ SBS Television (2024) give examples, such as:

Some families or friends may take part alongside specialised death care persons, in, washing, dressing or shrouding the deceased loved one.

The performing of last rites at a Hindu cremation ceremony in ritual cremation grounds Shamshan Ghaat by males and not females, who are usually forbidden from being there. The rules can or have been bent to allow women to be involved. Symbols of abundance for the karmic journey may be observed, which is, gold coins placed in eye sockets, hands filled with rice and the body adorned with flowers before the body is cremated on an open pyre. Kapal Kriya is performed, which is, crushing the skull with an 8-foot-long bamboo joust mid cremation to release the soul to journey to its next reincarnation. This is also done, because, the belief is, if the skull is left intact, it may be possessed by dark spirits.

Back here in most Australian states, the common body disposition methods are, traditional burial, fire cremation and the emergence of water cremation whether individuals do or do not want a service, before, during or after.

Alternatives are emerging here for body disposition, such as stand-alone natural burial upright in the ground 3 metres down, available in some southern Australian states far away from cities and suburbs.

Natural green burial areas exist in small numbers throughout Australia as part of main cemeteries. Cremated remains are not permitted in the area. Bodies are enclosed in natural biodegradable caskets or shrouds without the use of chemical preservatives and no individual memorials are allowed. A communal memorial is found at the entrance of the area to allow a small memorial tribute, as documented in the website of Council of the City of Gold Coast (2024).

Green burials return the body directly to the earth to decompose naturally. This is better for the environment, as life producing organisms from the body nourish soil, plants and trees; as told in Michael Hebb’s book (2018).

Overseas, bigger numbers of natural burial grounds exist.

Some people working in the natural burial industry feel this brings back the ritual in death which has been diminished by cremation. That is, family and community carrying the dead has meaning for them, as does turning over soil after re-composition or natural burial of the body. Therefore, physical grieving is not lost and funeral walks can be healing.
For example, in Buddhist Burials during the funeral procession, a Buddhist staff is used to hit the ground at every third step, as bells are clanged to keep the entourage in the present; as told in Michael Hebb’s book (2018).

According to Michael Hebb (2018) and ‘The Last Goodbye’ SBS Television (2024) further types of body disposition only currently available overseas include:

Jewellery, which can be made with one’s ashes, or one’s ashes can be turned into pebbles.

One’s water cremated remains can be placed in a capsule sent out to sea with a GPS tracking system for family to know where the dead are.

Ashes can be turned into diamonds for a huge cost, or placed in a customised action figure.
Mushroom spore threaded, bio mixed shrouds can be used to wrap and bury one’s pets.

Some families choose to divide up the dead’s ashes and take the portion to a beach, a lake, a faraway place, keep them close by, place with buried ancestors etc.

Recompose: the shrouded body is placed in a single vessel with woodchips or other carbon rich materials, the process of microbial activity decomposes the body rapidly over about a 30-day period. The soil can be taken by families to perform a ritual to place the soil in a garden to nourish plants or trees.

Regardless of how one’s body is disposed of; many may want their remains to be returned to the resting place or country of origin of their ancestors.
 

In conclusion: personalised and meaningful living, dying and body disposition should be a priority in society. It is everybody’s right and everybody’s responsibility.